How to Recover Deleted Instagram Posts After 30 Days
Understanding Instagram’s Deletion Policy
What Happens When You Delete a Post?
When you delete an Instagram post, it doesn't disappear instantly. Instead, it’s moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder, giving you a 30-day grace period to restore it. Stories that aren’t archived stay for just 24 hours.
Instagram’s Recently Deleted Feature
Launched to help users recover content they might delete by accident or due to hacking, the Recently Deleted feature stores:
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Posts
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Reels
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Stories
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IGTV videos
All of these remain retrievable for 30 days, unless you manually delete them from that folder too.
The 30-Day Rule Explained
Once 30 days pass, Instagram automatically purges the deleted content from its servers, making it unrecoverable—at least officially.
Can You Recover Posts After 30 Days?
What Gets Permanently Deleted?
After the 30-day window, your content is typically gone for good. Instagram's backend no longer stores it, and the media files are wiped from your account.
Exceptions to the 30-Day Window
There are rare cases where:
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Instagram retains backups due to technical issues
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Some data might remain on your device or in external linked accounts (like Facebook)
Step-by-Step Recovery Within 30 Days
Accessing the Recently Deleted Folder
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Open Instagram and go to your profile.
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Tap the menu (☰) in the top-right corner.
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Go to “Your activity” > “Recently deleted”.
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Find the post you want to recover.
Restoring a Deleted Post
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Tap the post.
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Tap the three-dot menu (⋮).
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Choose “Restore”.
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Authenticate (password or SMS code) if asked.
Boom—you’ve got your post back!
What to Do If 30 Days Have Passed
Try Instagram’s Data Download Tool
Sometimes, deleted photos remain in your account’s data backup. Here’s how to access it:
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Go to Settings > Security > Download Data.
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Enter your email.
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Instagram will email you a link with all your data.
You might find the deleted photo buried inside.
Contacting Instagram Support
If it’s a high-stakes post (brand campaign, legal matter, etc.), try contacting support:
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Go to Settings > Help > Report a Problem
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Explain your situation in detail
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Be patient—responses can take days or weeks
Check Linked Apps or Services
If you’ve linked Instagram to:
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Facebook
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Later.com
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Canva
...they might have a saved version of the post or visual asset.
Using Google Cache or Archive Tools
Google Cache Explained
Sometimes Google stores a snapshot of your Instagram post. Search:
site:instagram.com/yourusername “caption keywords”
Click the tiny green arrow next to the URL and choose “Cached” (if available).
Wayback Machine and Archive.org
This tool randomly archives web pages:
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Visit archive.org/web
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Type your Instagram profile URL.
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Check snapshots from the date range.
If you’re lucky, your post got caught in one.
Recovering From Device Backups
iPhone and iCloud
If your iPhone auto-saved Instagram photos:
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Open Photos app
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Search in Recently Deleted or Instagram albums
Also check iCloud backups if enabled.
Android and Google Photos
Google Photos might auto-back up Instagram images:
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Open Google Photos
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Tap Search > Look under Instagram folder
Don’t forget to check Trash or Archived sections.
Third-Party Recovery Tools – Are They Safe?
What to Watch Out For
Be cautious of tools claiming to recover deleted Instagram content—they’re usually scams or privacy risks.
Red flags:
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Require Instagram login
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Ask for payment upfront
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Promise “guaranteed recovery”
Recommended Tools (If Any)
Legit options include:
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Google Photos
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iCloud
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Instagram’s own data export
Avoid third-party tools unless they're simply helping with local storage or backups.
How to Avoid Future Losses
Enable Auto-Save to Device
Go to:
Settings > Account > Original Posts
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Toggle Save Original Photos/Reels
Now, everything you post will also save to your camera roll.
Use Third-Party Backup Apps Safely
Apps like IFTTT, Google Drive, or Dropbox can back up your posts automatically—if set up correctly.
Instagram Business Accounts and Deletion
Additional Options for Business Users
Business and Creator accounts may have integrations with:
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CRMs
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Scheduling tools like Buffer or Later
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Cloud-based content storage
Check those dashboards for old media files.
Instagram API and External CRMs
Some CRMs connected via the Instagram API may keep a record of posts—even if deleted. Ask your marketing team or tool provider.
Myths About Instagram Deletion
Common Misunderstandings
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"Instagram keeps everything forever" — Nope.
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"Hackers can restore my old posts" — Big no.
What Really Works
Stick to tools built into Instagram and your own device/cloud storage. Everything else is mostly wishful thinking.
User Stories: Real Experiences Recovering Posts
Success After Contacting Support
Some users report success when:
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They provided strong proof (screenshots, legal concern)
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They were verified or had high follower counts
Stories From Google Backup Users
Others simply found their “deleted” post in Google Photos or Facebook albums they forgot were connected.
What Instagram Says – Official Sources
Instagram’s Help Center Advice
The platform clearly states:
After 30 days, deleted content is permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Their Privacy and Retention Policy
Per Meta’s policy:
Backups may exist temporarily but are not accessible to users after deletion.
Should You Recreate Deleted Posts?
Benefits of Starting Fresh
Recreating allows:
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Updating the caption or hashtags
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Refreshing engagement
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Reintroducing your content to a new audience
Risks of Reposting the Same Content
Some users worry about decreased reach or duplicate penalties. It’s rare, but you can tweak things slightly to stay on the safe side.
Expert Tips to Keep Your Instagram Content Safe
Use Scheduling and Backup Tools
Tools like:
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Planoly
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Later
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Meta Business Suite
...let you schedule and save your posts ahead of time.
Regularly Export Instagram Data
Make it a monthly habit to:
Settings > Security > Download Data
It’s your insurance policy against future losses.
Final Thoughts
Losing an Instagram post after 30 days can feel like watching your memories vanish into thin air. While there's no magic button to restore posts beyond the official window, there are clever workarounds worth trying. Whether it's checking device backups, using Instagram's data tools, or contacting support, you’ve got options.
And hey—learn from it. Set up automatic backups, enable cloud sync, and treat your content like the valuable asset it is.